Bank fees are one of the main sources of unnecessary expenses for individuals and freelancers. On average, a user pays between €150 and €400 in bank fees each year, often without realizing it. These fees appear discreetly on your bank statement as commissions, account maintenance fees, or recurring charges. Fortunately, it is possible to quickly identify and significantly reduce them through a precise analysis of your bank statement.
In this article, we explain how to spot hidden bank fees, why they increase your budget, and above all, how to reduce them in just a few clicks with the ScanCompte tool. We rely on the automatic analysis of CSV bank statement files to offer you a simple and effective method.
Why do bank fees often remain invisible?
Banks use unclear labels on your statements: "MANAGEMENT FEES", "INTERVENTION COMMISSION", "ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE FEES", or "SEPA DIRECT DEBIT FEES". These terms do not always allow you to immediately understand their nature. Additionally, some bank fees are automatically deducted every month or quarter, making them even more discreet.
Statistics from scans performed on ScanCompte show that 87% of users discover at least 3 unnecessary bank fees during their first analysis. These fees mainly concern standard accounts, bank cards, and professional services. Without the right tool, it is difficult to sort through the 40 to 80 lines of a monthly bank statement.
To better understand how a bank statement works, check out our detailed guide: Monthly bank statement: how to analyze it effectively.
How to manually identify bank fees on your statement
Before using an automated tool, here is the classic manual method:
- Export your bank statement in CSV or PDF format for the last 3 to 6 months;
- Filter all lines containing "FEES", "COMMISSION", "MAINTENANCE", or "INTERVENTION";
- Identify recurring amounts (monthly or quarterly);
- Compare them with your bank's fee schedule.
This approach often takes more than an hour per statement and remains imprecise. That's why many users now prefer an automated solution like ScanCompte to detect all bank fees in just a few seconds.
The quick solution: scan your bank statement with ScanCompte
ScanCompte instantly analyzes your bank statement in CSV format and detects all bank fees, whether recurring or one-time. The tool automatically categorizes expenses and highlights potential savings.
The process is extremely simple:
- Export your CSV bank statement from your online banking portal;
- Upload the file to ScanCompte (supports files up to 10 MB);
- Choose your plan (Essential or Pro) and get a detailed report in less than 30 seconds.
The algorithm identifies account maintenance fees, card commissions, overdraft fees, and PayPal withdrawals. It also provides comparisons with the best offers on the market.
To learn more about how the tool works, read our dedicated article: Why and how to scan your account with ScanCompte.
Concrete examples of bank fees detected by ScanCompte
Here are real cases observed among users:
- Standard account maintenance fees: €6/month → €72/year;
- Commission on unused bank card: €4/month → €48/year;
- Forgotten authorized overdraft fees: €8 per incident → €120/year;
- SEPA direct debit for obsolete insurance: €9.90/month → €118.80/year.
In 74% of cases, users reduce their bank fees by more than €200 per year after following the recommendations in the ScanCompte report.
How much can you really save on bank fees?
Data collected by ScanCompte in 2025-2026 indicates an average savings of €280 per year. Freelancers and professional account users often achieve savings of €350 to €450 annually. These amounts are recovered immediately after switching banks or negotiating with your advisor.
ScanCompte also provides email templates for canceling services and arguments to negotiate the removal of bank fees with your current bank.
For more tips on managing your budget, check out our advice: How to track your expenses to better manage your budget.
Top 7 most common bank fees to watch out for
ScanCompte has identified the most frequent fees:
- Account maintenance fees (standard or premium);
- Bank card commissions;
- Authorized or unauthorized overdraft fees;
- Intervention fees for rejected direct debits;
- Insurance and paid options linked to the card;
- International or SEPA transfer fees;
- Unidentified PayPal withdrawals.
To specifically reduce your subscriptions and recurring fees, check out our guide: Top 5 strategies to reduce your streaming subscriptions (which also applies to recurring fees).
Concrete steps to reduce your bank fees today
- Export your last 3 bank statements in CSV format;
- Upload them to ScanCompte to get the full report;
- Identify unnecessary bank fees and note the amounts involved;
- Negotiate with your bank or switch to a fee-free offer;
- Perform a scan every 3 months to maintain control.
The free plan already allows you to view the main fees. Paid plans (from €5.99 per scan) unlock comprehensive detection and a detailed PDF report.
Conclusion: take control of your bank fees
Identifying and reducing your bank fees has never been easier. With ScanCompte, you turn your bank statement into a real savings tool. In less than 30 minutes, you can spot and eliminate hundreds of euros in unnecessary expenses each year.
Don't let bank fees eat into your budget. Try ScanCompte now and quickly optimize your account management.
Ready to detect your hidden bank fees? Visit https://www.scancompte.com/ and analyze your first statement in just a few clicks.
